In a presentation to a parliamentary budget committee in Ankara, Avci said: “Almost 400 schools were hit by terrorist attacks last year. Due to these attacks, an extra 100 million Turkish liras -- taken from the ministry budget -- had to be spent for furnishing, repair works and urgent needs.”

Southeast Turkey has been hard hit by PKK terrorist attacks since July, when the group renewed its armed campaign.

Avci added that his department was educating 310,000 Syrian children aged five to 17. As well as being taught in refugee camps, around 73,000 Syrian children are being educated in Turkish schools -- a figure that is expected to reach 105,000 by the end of the school year.